The International Trade (INTA) Committee votes to lift all import duties on any product coming from Ukraine, with the aim to support the country’s economy. MEPs will adopt this file by fast-track procedure, so that the final vote can take place already during this week's plenary sitting.

EU - Ukraine (T)

statement

vote

troubles in Ukraine (T)

Committee on International Trade

LANGE, Bernd (S&D, DE)

solidarity with Ukraine (T)

Temporary trade liberalisation supplementing trade concessions applicable to Ukrainian products: extracts from the vote and statement by Bernd LANGE (S&D, DE) - Chair of INTA Committee

SOUNDBITE (English), Bernd LANGE (S&amp;D, DE), Chair of INTA Committee, After concluding the association agreement with Ukraine, the trade developed is quite good. Before the war, Ukraine was the 15th important trading partner of the European Union. But of course, as was a third country with tariffs, some anti-dumping duties and some safeguard measures as well. So all this will be covered by the legislation. We will have no tariffs anymore. We will have no anti-dumping measures and no safeguards anymore. So three different types.

SOUNDBITE (English), Bernd LANGE (S&amp;D, DE), Chair of INTA Committee, - A lot of products are covered, sensitive ones, like steel or some agricultural products. But nevertheless, everything will be set to zero.

SOUNDBITE (English), Bernd LANGE (S&amp;D, DE), Chair of INTA Committee, - In the legislation, we have safeguard measures. So DG Trade and other is looking to the market development and if there are serious problems, then we can intervene. Butbased on the association agreement, a lot of tariffs decrease and specifically also sensitive products like fertiliser will come this year to zero tariffs. So it is not such a big change of the situation as it is. It would cover small market share, but of course some sensitive products like chicken parts or like steel and therefore we have to look quite carefully.

SOUNDBITE (English), Bernd LANGE (S&amp;D, DE), Chair of INTA Committee, - The election issue will go on for one year and of course, we will look how this developed and perhaps we have to extend it. But firstly, we have freedom of the ability to have a fair quota free access to the market for one year.